Battling the common fear of public speaking

According to Do It Best, Public Speaking (or Glossophobia as it is officially known) is America’s number one fear. It is a fear that most of us can relate to with common telltale signs such as a dry mouth, weak voice, stuttering, shaking, sweat, red face, and rapid heartbeat.

Why does this happen? Well according to Psychology Today, there are a number of reasons. Firstly, physiology, which triggers the arousal of the autonomic nervous system in response to a potentially threatening stimulus. 

Secondly is the thought process and perception of speaking publicly. Individuals become nervous when they overestimate the stakes of communicating their ideas in front of others, perceiving the speaking event as a potential threat to their credibility, image, and chance to reach an audience. 

In addition to the above, there is also skill. Some people are naturally good at public speaking and giving presentations, that’s a fact. But for others, the task can seem a lot more daunting.

According to a survey from Pickit, an all-in-one image service and add-in for PowerPoint, 19% of people claim to feel very nervous about making the presentation, and 47% feel slightly nervous. However, while some might be naturally better at presenting, this skill, like any skill, can be improved. And with the right tools, it is possible for anyone to deliver a kickass presentation.

To deliver the best presentation it is important to make it as informative, educational, inspiring and persuasive as possible. And there is good news, you don’t have to spend hours building an effective presentation if you have the right tools and know a few basic tricks.

For example, a few days ago, the Pick it team held a webinar on The Impact of Bad Presentations and How to Stop It. To get the best tips from PickIt you can watch the full video below or visit their website.

Disclosure: This article includes a client of an Espacio portfolio company